Toyota Highlander - 2011

Details: The base Highlander gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 20/25 mpg city/highway, and the V6 model has a rating of up to 19/25, both of which are good ratings for the class. The Highlander has a six-speed automatic transmission that reviewers say is responsive and shifts without hesitation. Critics agree that the Highlander rides comfortably over rough roads and has buttoned-down handling. Reviewers praise the Toyota Highlander for its soft-touch materials and quiet cabin. They write that there is plenty of leg- and headroom in the front and middle rows of seats and that kids should be comfortable riding in the third row. The Highlander has 83.7 cubic feet of overall cargo space, which is less than what a number of rivals offer. However, many are impressed with the abundance of small-item storage areas within the Highlander. Standard features include Bluetooth, a rearview camera, a USB port and Toyota's Entune infotainment system with a 6.1-inch touch screen. Available features include an upgraded Entune system with an 8-inch touch screen, a 12-speaker JBL Audio system, adaptive cruise control and Driver Easy Speak, which uses a microphone to project the driver's voice through the stereo speakers to rear passengers. Overall, reviewers say the Entune system works well, and some appreciate that the Driver Easy Speak system makes it easier for the driver to communicate with passengers in the back.